Battle of Plains Store

Battle of Plains Store
Part of the American Civil War
DateMay 21, 1863
LocationEast Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States United States (Union) Confederate States of America CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Christopher C. Augur Frank W. Powers
William R. Miles
Units involved
XIX Corps Port Hudson garrison
Strength
1 division of infantry
1 brigade of cavalry
~600[1]
Casualties and losses
150 100

The Battle of Plains Store or the Battle of Springfield Road was fought May 21, 1863, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, during the campaign to capture Port Hudson in the American Civil War. The Union victory closed the last Confederate escape route from Port Hudson.

Background

The 1st Division, XIX Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. Christopher C. Augur, left Baton Rouge and was moving north towards Port Hudson to secure a landing for the rest of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks's forces.

Battle

Union cavalry under Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, leading the advance of Augur's division, began skirmishing with Confederate forces under Col. Frank W. Powers. Union infantry approached and the fighting escalated. Col. William R. Miles left Port Hudson at noon, but when he reached the field, Powers's forces had already retreated and the fighting subsided. Miles nevertheless attacked, and at first succeeded in pushing back the Union infantry. Augur rallied his troops and counterattacked, driving the Confederates from Plains Store and back to the Port Hudson defenses, ending the battle.

Aftermath

The battle closed off the last escape route for the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson. The next day Nathaniel Banks invested the fortress and began the siege of Port Hudson.

Notes

  1. Kennedy, p. 181.

References

External links

Coordinates: 30°41′24″N 91°12′22″W / 30.69°N 91.206°W